ARMENIER IN MOSKAU GETOTET
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
12. Juni 2006
M.L. MOSKAU, 11. Juni. In Moskau ist am Wochenende ein Armenier bei
einem Uberfall getotet, ein anderer schwer verletzt worden. Einer der
vermutlichen Tater, ein junger Russe, der am Samstag abend mit einer
Pistole auf die Armenier gefeuert haben soll, wurde kurze Zeit nach der
Tat festgenommen. Nach Angaben der Miliz weigerte sich der Mann, Fragen
zu beantworten. Ob die Tat rassistische Hintergrunde hatte, konnte noch
nicht geklart werden. Seit Jahren werden immer wieder fremdlandisch
aussehende Menschen in russischen Stadten Opfer von Uberfallen,
bei denen rassistische Motive aufgedeckt wurden. Ein Vertreter der
Vereinten Nationen soll nun fremdenfeindliche Ubergriffe in Rußland
untersuchen. Der Sondergesandte fur Rassismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit,
Dudu Diene, soll deshalb in dieser Woche nach Moskau und St. Petersburg
fahren, die als Hochburgen fremdenfeindlicher Gewalt gelten, und dort
mit den Behorden sprechen.
Erst Ende Mai war ein Armenier in einem Moskauer Vorortzug von
Rechtsextremisten erstochen worden. In St. Petersburg wurde im April
ein afrikanischer Student erschossen.
–Boundary_(ID_OOpXonUknIufiAWABuN6Qg )–

CALMY-REY SOLL IN ARMENIEN DES VOLKERMORDS GEDENKEN
Tages-Anzeiger
10. Juni 2006
Die Aussenministerin pflegt die Beziehung zu Armenien. Doch furs
Wirtschaftsdepartement hat dieses Land keine Prioritat.
Bern. – Die Gesellschaft Schweiz-Armenien reagierte besorgt,
als Aussenministerin Micheline Calmy-Rey im Februar ins olreiche
Aserbeidschan reiste – und das benachbarte Armenien entgegen einer
fruheren Zusicherung links liegen liess. Damit werde eine neutrale
Vermittlung der Schweiz im Streit der beiden Lander um Berg-Karabach
gefahrdet und die reichere Konfliktpartei bevorzugt, klagte die
Gesellschaft damals. Doch das Aussenministerium (EDA) betonte das
“wachsende Interesse der Schweiz am ganzen Sudkaukasus” und kundigte
einen spateren Armenienbesuch an. Dieser steht nun am Montag an,
wie das EDA bestatigte.
Zum Besuchsprogramm wollte es jedoch keine Angaben machen. Dem
Vernehmen nach will Calmy-Rey ein Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen
unterzeichnen und ein Osthilfeprojekt besichtigen. Die Rede ist
auch von einem symboltrachtigen Besuch des Mahnmals fur die Opfer
des Genozids an den Armeniern von 1915. Weil der Nationalrat diesen
Volkermord anerkannt hat und die Schweizer Justiz seine Leugnung
ahndet, sind die Beziehungen der Turkei zur Schweiz gestort.
Calmy-Reys Armenienbesuch durfte deshalb in der Turkei ebenso
argwohnisch verfolgt werden wie der Besuch des armenischen
Handelsministers Karen Chshmaritian nachste Woche in der Schweiz.
Er wird in Bern Parlamentarier treffen, nicht aber seinen
Schweizer Amtskollegen Joseph Deiss, der auf deutsche Einladung
an die Fussball-WM nach Stuttgart reist. Der Nichtempfang im
Volkswirtschaftsdepartement wird aber auch damit begrundet, dass
Armenien nicht mehr zu den Prioritatenlandern des Staatssekretariats
fur Wirtschaft (Seco) zahle. Immerhin darf Handelsminister Chshmaritian
am Montag in Zurich an einem Investitionsforderungs-Forum unter
Seco-Leitung teilnehmen, das eine Firma fur Investitionen in Armenien
auszeichnet.

CALMY-REY IN ARMENIEN OEL KOENNTE IM KONFLIKT UM BERG-KARABACH KARTEN
neu mischen Hintergrund Von Anja Germond, SDA
Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Basisdienst Deutsch
9. Juni 2006
Bern
Der Konflikt um Berg-Karabach, den Bundesraetin Micheline Calmy-Rey
beim Besuch in Armenien ansprechen moechte, ist einer der aeltesten
in Europa. Ein Abkommen ist nicht in Sicht, doch durch das Oel von
Baku koennten die Karten neu gemischt werden.
Aserbaidschan erlebt derzeit einen Wirtschaftsboom wegen seiner
Einkuenfte aus der Oelindustrie. Die Pipeline Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan (BTC)
zwischen Aserbaidschan un der Tuerkei ist seit dem 27. Mai in Betrieb
und wird am Dienstag eingeweiht. Die 1767 Kilometer lange Roehre soll
jaehrlich bis zu 50 Millionen Tonnen Oel transportieren.
Amerikanische Interessen
“Die wirtschaftlichen Gewinne koennten sich im Konflikt um die Region
Berg-Karabach zu Gunsten Aserbaidschans auswirken”, sagt der fruehere
Staatssekretaer Edouard Brunner gegenueber der Nachrichtenagentur
SDA. Der Schweizer Ex-Spitzendiplomat war 1995 als Sondergesandter
der UNO in die suedkaukasischen Laender gereist.
Das Pipeline-Projekt wird von der US-Regierung unterstuetzt und
duerfte die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen Baku und Washington
befluegeln. Gemaess Analysten sind die USA namentlich an einer Loesung
des Konflikts interessiert, damit der Oeltransport nicht durch einen
neuen Krieg gefaehrdet wird.
Ein wirtschaftlich erstarktes Aserbaidschan werde auch die Mittel
haben, militaerisch aufzuruesten, sagt Brunner. Bisher haetten die
Armenier aufgrund militaerischer Ueberlegenheit die Gefechte jeweils
gewonnen.
Hunderttausende in Fluechtlingslagern
Armenien und Aserbaidschan streiten sich seit langem um die Region
Berg-Karabach. Berg-Karabach gehoert voelkerrechtlich zu Aserbaidschan,
historisch gesehen ist die Region jedoch Teil von Armenien.
1988 eskalierte der schwelende Konflikt nach anti-armenischen Pogromen
in Aserbaidschan in einen offenen Krieg, in dessen Verlauf beide
Seiten ethnische Saeuberungen vornahmen.
Nach auf dem Internet-Protal Wikipedia publizierten Schaetzungen
starben rund 17 000 Armenier und 25 000 Aserbaidschaner.
Hunderttausende wurden zu Fluechtlingen. Seit 1994 ruhen die Waffen.
Instrument fuer Propaganda
Die Situation der Vertriebenen in Aserbaidschan koennte sich durch
die groesseren finanziellen Ressourcen verbessern. In den letzten
Jahren habe der von den Behoerden geaeufnete Oelfonds beigetragen
zum Aufbau von Haeusern, Schulen und Spitaelern, heisst es auf der
Internet-Seite der aserbaidschanischen Regierung.
Verschiedene Beobachter geben zu bedenken, dass Aserbaidschan die
Fluechtlinge als Propagandainstrument missbrauche. Das Land mache
nichts zur Verbesserung der Situation in den Fluechtlingslagern,
sagt Ernst Muehlemann, frueher fuer die Schweiz im Europarat, derzeit
Vizepraesident des Ost-West-Forums.
Aussenministerin Calmy-Rey hatte bereits im Februar in Aserbaidschan
ein Lager mit Fluechtlingen aus Berg-Karabach besucht. Um “Symmetrie”
herzustellen, kuendigte sie danach an, auch nach Armenien zu reisen.
Die Schweiz hat wiederholt als Mediatorin zwischen den Konfliktparteien
vermittelt.

SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION’S SECURITY IMPORTANT TO LITHUANIA, WHOLE INTL COMMUNITY – PRESIDENT
Baltic News Service
June 15, 2006 Thursday 3:06 PM EET
During a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan,
currently on a visit to Vilnius, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
noted that South Caucasus region’s security was very important to
Lithuania and the whole international community.
According to a press release from the Lithuanian president’s
press service, Adamkus expressed hope that this year would give new
possibilities to solve the problem of Mountain Karabakh. The president
assured that this issue would receive sufficient attention from the
international community.
Clashes between Azerbaijanis and ethnic Armenians in Mountain Karabakh,
which then belonged to Azerbaijan SSR, started in 1988. The conflict
escalated in around 1992 and grew into a real war between Azerbaijan
and Armenia, which had already become independent republics. The
war claimed some 35,000 lives. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis
became refugees.
Mountain Karabakh is currently controlled by Armenians, and there is
only a fragile truce between the two sides in the conflict.
Mountain Karabakh is a region of strategic importance. The main gas
pipeline linking oil fields in the Caspian Sea with global markets
is several kilometers from the conflict zone.
During his two-day visit to Lithuania, Sargsyan will also meet
with acting Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas to discuss Armenia’s
relations with NATO, the course of Armed Forces reforms, participation
in international operations, prospects of bilateral and regional
cooperation.
Later on Thursday, the Armenian defense minister will visit the
Lithuanian parliament to meet with members of the National Security
and Defense Committee.
On Friday, Sargsyan is planned to visit the Grand Duchess Birute
Motorized Infantry Battalion in Alytus, where Armenian officers have
been interning since 2005.
Lithuania has been cooperating with Armenia in the field of defense
since 2002. Lithuania finances Armenian officers’ studies at the
Lithuanian Military Academy and the Baltic Defense College. In early
March this year, Lithuania accredited its first defense attache to
Armenia, Lieutenant Colonel Albertas Charzevskis.
Sargsyan has been heading the Armenian Defense Ministry since 2000.
He also held the office of defense minister in 1993-1995, later worked
as interior minister and national security minister, held other high
positions in the country’s security structures.
This is his third visit to Lithuania. He already visited the Baltic
state in 2002 and 2004.
Irakli Okruashvili, the defense minister of another South Caucasus
country, Georgia, visited Lithuania earlier this week.

ON MAY 02 MTS MADE A BID FOR ACQUISITION 90% SHARES OF ARMENIA’S OPERATOR ARMENTEL
Agency WPS
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES MARKET (Russia)
June 15, 2006 Thursday
The deal with the Greek holding company OTE at $350-450 million could
make MTS an Armenia’s key cellular operator and operators of AFK
Systema – the monopolists at Armenia’s market of wire communications
Reference: Valery Kodachigov “Systema is ready to become a monopolist
in Armenia,” the Kommersant, June 05, 2006, p. 16; Yulia Belous,
Igor Tsukanov “Systema has changed its mind,” the Vedomosti, June 05,
2006, p. B8
“We have actually made a bid for 90% shares of the company, it
corresponds to the strategy of our development,” said a spokesman
at Mobilnie Telesystemi Mr. Alyavdin. It is known that the Greek
operator OTE acts as a seller of 90% of Armentel shares. According
to the analysts at Aton, MTS may pay $350-450 million for Armentel.
In the experts’ opinion, buying Armentel MTS will do a profitable
purchase not only for itself but for the operators of fixed
communication which are part of AFK Systema and united in the company
Comstar-Obiedinennie Telesystemi. If the deal is completed, Comstar
will become a monopolist at Armenia’s local market and besides, will
get a solvent base of users of international communications. “The
volume of international traffic to and from Armenia is great. Three
quarters of Armenians live outside Armenia, so demand for services
of international communications is great there,” said a partner with
the company ACM-Consulting Mr. Alexeev. As for Armentel cellular
business, MTS is making a profitable acquisition. “Penetration of
cellular business in Armenia is four times lower than in Russia,
so potential of the market is very high,” he added.
Despite this fact, other key Russia’s operators are cautious about
Armenia’s telecoms assets. MegaFon announced that the company is
not interested in Armentel, “Purchase of Armentel is not the only
way of entering into Armenia’s market.” Altimo holding company
(manages Alfa-Group’s telecoms assets) denied comments on the plans
concerning Armentel. However, in 2005 representatives of Altimo were
negotiating with OTE about Armentel. However, the deal never took
place – according to the sources close to Altimo, the parties did not
agree upon the value of the asset. The experts say that suspicious
attitude to Armentel is explained by the fact that any Russian buyer
will inevitably face with the same problems as OTE faced with.
Armentel’s unstable state at the market is one of the problems. Its
primary shareholder VivaCell (sells services under brand K-Telecom)
appeared at the market in July, 2005 but already serves 350 000
subscribers and, according to Armenia’s experts, will leave Armentel
greatly behind by the end of the current year.
Besides, Armenian market of fixed communication is regulated by the
state strictly. “OTE insisted on increasing tariffs and introduction
of per minute payment. However, the parliament of Armenia does not
want to compromise,” said director of the department for corporate
finances at Deutsche UFG Mr. Inshutin. “This was one of the reasons
of friction between OTE and Armenia’s power.”
In conclusion, Russian telecoms workers emphasize that Armentel is
de facto deprived of monopoly at a long-distance communications market.
“Experience shows that black market of long-distance and international
communications is flourishing and expanding in Armenia.
We watch that 25-30% of telephone traffic from Armenia is generated
not by Armentel but by unknown IP-operators without licenses and
permission,” said senior vice president at Corbina Telecom Mr. Malis.
“This anarchy may reduce Armetel’s investment appeal,” he added.

CRIME AGAINST FOREIGNERS ON RISE IN RUSSIA: OFFICIALS
Agence France Presse — English
June 14, 2006 Wednesday 10:37 PM GMT
The number of crimes committed against foreigners in Russia this year
soared by 33 percent compared to last year’s figures, the interior
ministry said Wednesday.
Almost 6,000 crimes against foreigners and people without citizenship
were registered this year, officials quoted by the Interfax news
agency said, adding however that these crimes were only 0.4 percent
of all registered in Russia.
Also, ethnic hatred motivated 18 murders and 129 attacks this year,
rights activist Galina Kozhevnikova of the Sova Center said, adding
that 10 of those murders were committed in Moscow and four more in
Russia’s second largest city, Saint Petersburg.
Recognisable Russian ethnic minorities — especially Chechens and
other Caucasians — as well as Armenians, Roma gypsies and Jews,
and foreign nationals such as Africans and Asians have increasingly
been targeted in racist attacks.
Although a string of murders by skinheads has grabbed headlines,
human rights campaigners also accuse Russian security forces and
semi-official law enforcement militias of routine abuses and point
to a climate of near-impunity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DM TO PAY VISIT TO LITHUANIA
Baltic News Service
June 14, 2006 Wednesday 11:56 PM EET
Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan is starting a two-day visit
to Lithuania on Thursday.
According to a press release from the Lithuanian Defense Ministry,
Sargsyan is scheduled to meet with acting Lithuanian Defense Minister
Gediminas Kirkilas to discuss Armenia’s relations with NATO, the course
of Armed Forces reforms, participation in international operations,
prospects of bilateral and regional cooperation.
Later on Thursday, the Armenian defense minister will visit the
Lithuanian parliament to meet with members of the National Security
and Defense Committee.
On Friday, Sargsyan is planned to visit the Grand Duchess Birute
Motorized Infantry Battalion in Alytus, where Armenian officers have
been interning since 2005.
According to the press release, Lithuania has been cooperating
with Armenia in the field of defense since 2002. Lithuania finances
Armenian officers’ studies at the Lithuanian Military Academy and
the Baltic Defense College. In early March this year, Lithuania
accredited its first defense attache to Armenia, Lieutenant Colonel
Albertas Charzevskis.
Sargsyan has been heading the Armenian Defense Ministry since 2000.
He also held the office of defense minister in 1993-1995, later worked
as interior minister and national security minister, held other high
positions in the country’s security structures.
This is his third visit to Lithuania. He already visited the Baltic
state in 2002 and 2004.
Irakli Okruashvili, the defense minister of another South Caucasus
country, Georgia, visited Lithuania earlier this week.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG SCIENTISTS SEEK WAYS TO PREDICT NATURAL CALAMITIES
by Leonid Vinogradov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 14, 2006 Wednesday 05:33 PM EST
Natural calamities that occurred on Sakhalin and Kuril islands will
be the main subject for discussion at an international conference
of young scientists from Russia, Japan, China, Bulgaria, Iran, and
Armenia. The forum is to be held here from June 15 to 20.
The press service of the Sakhalin-based Institute of Marine Geology
and Geophysics has announced that about 60 scholars will make reports
at the conference. Russia will be represented by scientists from
Vladivostok, Magadan, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Those present will endeavour to work out a system to predict
earthquakes, tsunami oceanic waves, and snow avalanches on the strength
of the study of the natural calamities that occurred on Sakhalin and
the Kuriles.
The 1952 tsunami was the Kuriles’ most terrible natural calamity
that devastated the town of Severo-Kurilsk on Paramushir Island. The
oceanic wave that was 15-18 metres high claimed a toll of more than
2,000 human lives. The 1995 earthquake on Sakhalin made havoc of
Neftegorsk township, killing more than 2,000 inhabitants.

PETER SEMNEBY: “EU ACTION PLANS FOR CAUCASUS FEW MONTHS AWAY”
Today, Azerbaijan
June 15 2006
The EU special representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby,
told on Wednesday that European Neighborhood Policy Action Plans
with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan will be signed “in a couple of
months’ time.”
Semneby told RFE/RL that minor issues remain with Georgia, while
talks with Armenia are also “advanced.” However, he indicated the
negotiations with Azerbaijan are more difficult.
The EU’s high representative for common foreign and security policy,
Javier Solana, indicated after meeting Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Noghaideli on Wednesday for the first time that some countries could
be left behind.
“Of course we would like, as much as possible, to have the relationship
with the three countries as close as possible, as joint as possible,”
Solana said. “But as you know also very well, the Neighborhood
Policy has an element which is important in itself, which is [that it
contains] tailor-made action plans [specific] to the needs of every
country. Not every country is equal, not every country moves at the
same speed, but in general terms if we can do it together [that]
will be better. But the slowing [down] of one will not affect others.”
Semneby confirmed that there are differences between the EU and
Azerbaijan on how to address the Nagorno Karabakh issue. However,
he said he is “quite confident” the differences can be overcome soon.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/15/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Committee Adopts Amendment to Block US Subsidy for Armenia Railroad Bypass 2) Matthew Bryza Appointed US Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group 3) Luxembourg PM Proposes Freezing EU Talks with Turkey 4) Kocharian to Visit Iran 1) Committee Adopts Amendment to Block US Subsidy for Armenia Railroad Bypass WASHINGTON, DC--The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed Wednesday the vote by a powerful Congressional panel to block US taxpayer funding for an unnecessary and costly proposed railroad between Turkey and Georgia that would, if built, circumvent Armenia and, in the process, undermine the economic viability of the existing Caucasus railroad route through Armenia. With a unanimous voice vote Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee adopted the amendment offered by panel member Joe Crowley (D-NY). The measure prohibits the Export-Import Bank from providing any assistance ~Sto develop or promote any rail connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically exclude cities in Armenia.~T Representative Crowley serves as the Chief Deputy Minority Whip. His amendment to the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006 was co-authored by Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA). ~SWe thank Congressman Crowley, his colleagues Ed Royce and Brad Sherman, and all the members of the Financial Services Committee for protecting American taxpayers from subsidizing an ill-advised and over-priced railroad project that--at the insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan--has been proposed solely to exclude Armenia,~T said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. ~SWith this amendment, we are sending a message to the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan that continually excluding Armenia in regional projects fosters instability,~T said Congressman Crowley. ~SBypassing Armenia is just another attempt to further suffocate this republic, which has made great strides in democratic and economic reforms notwithstanding its neighbors~R hostility. If the Caucasus region is to move forward, we must ensure that all countries move forward together at the same time.~T He added that, ~SThe American taxpayer should not be required to finance a project that goes against the interests of the US government in the South Caucasus. I thank my colleagues for recognizing the importance of this legislation.~T A proposed new Caucasus rail line--at the urging of Turkey and Azerbaijan--would circumvent Armenia. Promoters of the project have sought, even at the planning stages, to secure US financing for this undertaking, prompting Congressional friends of Armenia to preemptively block such attempts. The Crowley Amendment is similar to the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006. This measure was introduced in both the House (HR 3361), by Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and in the Senate (S 2461) by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA). The House version has 85 cosponsors; the Senate version has been cosponsored by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). Both measures stress that US policy should oppose the ~SThe exclusion of Armenia from regional economic and commercial undertakings in the South Caucasus,~T noting that such actions ~Sundermine the United States policy goal of promoting a stable and cooperative environment in the region.~T Thousands of activists throughout the United States have sent ANCA WebFaxes to members of Congress in support of this legislation at anca.org/action_alerts/actionalerts.php?aaid=93 . In October of last year, the European Commission voiced official opposition to the proposed Caucasus railroad bypass of Armenia. A formal statement by the Commission~Rs Directorate General for Transport and Energy noted that its construction was both unnecessary and inefficient in light of the existing railroad connecting Kars, Gyumri, and Tbilisi. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank~Rs mission is to assist in financing the export of US goods and services to international markets. 2) Matthew Bryza Appointed US Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew J. Bryza was appointed the American co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Minsk Group, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said. ~SThe US informed us that Mr. Bryza will replace Steven Mann at the post of co-chair. After confirmation in Vienna he will fully engage into the process of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict settlement.~T Bryza is expected to pay a visit to the region to get familiarized with the situation and the peace process. When news of the replacement was first announced Azeri Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said that changing the American co-chairman will not have a negative impact on negotiations. He said that what is important is that the US remains in the regulation process. He added that Mann~Rs replacement will be fully involved in the process within one or two months. 3) Luxembourg PM Proposes Freezing EU Talks with Turkey PARIS (Reuters)--The European Union should freeze membership talks with Turkey if Ankara does not open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus this year, said Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker Thursday. It was the clearest signal so far that some leaders will seek a complete halt to the negotiations if Turkey does not fulfill its obligation to extend its EU customs union to all new member states, including Cyprus, which it does not recognize. Juncker was asked by the French daily La Croix whether the EU had shown weakness by agreeing to conclude the first detailed accession negotiations on science and research this week without a move by Turkey on Cyprus. "No. European ministers firmly reiterated to the Turks that this condition should be applied in 2006," he said. "If Turkey were not to implement this condition this year, my view is that the negotiations will have [to] be postponed." Turkey has said it would open air and sea access to Cypriot planes and ships if the EU made good on a promise to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriot northern Cyprus. The EU has rejected any linkage between Ankara's treaty obligation and its own political pledge, which Nicosia has so far impeded. Officially, the EU has not threatened a complete suspension of talks if, as expected, Turkey does not meet the condition. Foreign Ministers said this week "Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations" without specifying how. The executive European Commission is due to review Turkey's performance in a report in late October or early November and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has warned of a potential "train crash." Juncker, a veteran center-right politician close to Germany's governing Christian Democrats, suggested the EU would have to reconsider further expansion in the light of the defeat of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands. "Anyhow, Croatia aside, I think that it will probably not be possible to continue the enlargement process without limits and precautions if we do not manage to restore order to European institutions," he told La Croix. "A large-scale enlargement does not seem feasible to me on the sole basis of the current treaties." 4) Kocharian to Visit Iran YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--President Robert Kocharian will travel to Iran next month for his first face-to-face talks with the Islamic Republic~Rs President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his spokesman said on Thursday. Victor Soghomonian, the presidential press secretary, said that the official visit is tentatively scheduled to take place ~Sin the middle of this summer.~T Energy Minister Armen Movsisian was in Tehran late last month and discussed with senior Iranian officials details of Kocharian~Rs planned trip, suggesting that it will focus on Iranian-Armenian energy projects. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Movsisian told his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, that it could ~Sopen a new chapter~T in the close ties between the two neighboring states. Mottaki, for his part, was quoted as praising ~Scommon interests~T shared by Armenia and Iran and calling for a further deepening of their ~Sprofound relations.~T The remarks are in line with Ahmadinejad~Rs pledges to continue his predecessors~R policy on Armenia, which he made following his election as president a year ago. Kocharian had already visited Tehran in 2003 to meet with Iran~Rs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and then President Mohammad Khatami. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.